University of Virginia Library

SCENE the Princess's Apartment.
Enter on one Side Leonora, on the other Lorenzo.
LEONORA.
Ha! Lorenzo!
Why hast thou rashly disobey'd my Message?

Lor.
What means my Love?

Leon.
Saw'st thou not my Page? I sent him to thee,
And in my Letter warn'd thee not to come;
I fear we meet in Secret now no longer.

Lor.
I saw him not; but whence proceeds this Fear?

Leon.
Antenor, that old subtil lurking Villain,
This Day has hinted something to the King;
And tho' in outward Form I bore it off,
I with Confusion shudder'd all within:
None but the holy Man, who join'd our Hands,
Whose Faith's undoubted, knows our secret Loves;
And yet I tremble, lest we are betray'd.

Lor.
Be calm, my Love; we must, we are secure;
Come to my Arms, and loose all Thoughts of Fear.
'Twas I discover'd first this hidden Cave,
This secret Passage to this blissful Bower,
Hew'd by these Hands alone, at Dead of Night,
Not trusting any other with my Purpose;
Whilst Love, propitious to our mutual Wishes,
Bless'd my Endeavour, and inspir'd my Strength.
Thus unperceiv'd by the malicious World,
I steal to lovely Leonora's Bosom,
And gather there what Kings request in vain.

Leon.
Oh! Youth belov'd! thou Darling of my Soul
Thy Words would charm, and lull my Fears asleep,
Were there not something more than common in them.

Lor.
Oh, my fair Princess! by our Loves I swear,
The happiest Moments of my Life, are these;
These which I pass with beauteous Leonora.
Thou art the Guardian Angel, that defends me
Thro' all the various Dangers of the Field;
The Mem'ry of these Kisses fire my Soul;
And fond Desire of seeing thee again,
Gives true Herculean Courage to my Arm.
Ye dull Philosophers, that place Delight
And mighty Pleasure in any Thing but Love,
My Leonora's Form ne'er fill'd your Eye,
Nor shot her Beams of Light into your Soul.
Oh! thou art fairer than the Poets feign
The Queen of Love, in her most artful Dress;
Thy very Smiles are Graces waiting round,
Upon thy Lips the little Cupids hang,
And bask and wanton in thy Eyes by Turns.

Leon.
My dearest Lord, my faithful Husband, cease
These lavish Raptures which thy Love inspires.
I that have listen'd to thy Voice all Day,
With equal Transport clasp'd thee in my Arms,
And bounded ev'ry, wish within thy Bosom,
Now shrink and tremble at this fatal Meeting,
For something boding hovers o'er my Heart,
And checks the wonted Joy thy Presence brings.
Be gone, my Love, and endless Blessings wait thee.

Lor.
Unkindly urg'd; why wilt thou push me from thee?
Pleasure forsakes me, when I quit these Arms.
In Council or in Camp, my Soul's with thee,
And my charm'd Tongue can scarce forbear thy Name;
For Love and Leonora fill my Mind.
Thou'rt all the Subject that my Thoughts pursue;
Oh! that I could hold thee thus for ever,
Not all the Wealth that Indian Mines produce,
Should bribe me to forsake thee.

Leon.
Thy excessive Passion will undo us;
Prithee, no more—I do conjure thee leave me.

Lor.
Oh! thou hast rais'd me to such Height of Bliss,
That when my Soul is summon'd hence by Fate,
To taste the promis'd Joys of Paradice,
It cannot sure be more transported there.

Enter King and Antenor above.
Ante.
Now let your Majesty believe your Ears.

King.
I cannot! they are false—Confound the Traytor;
'Tis Magick sure—'Tis not Leonora.

Leon.
Hark! heard you not a Voice? Sure 'twas my Name.

Ante.
Speak lower, Sir, or you will lose your Prey.

Lor.
Thy Fears alone invade thy Ear, my Queen.

King.
Ha! his Queen! His Head shall answer for the Treason.

Lor.
Unbroken Silence reigns around this Place,
And nought intrudes, but murm'ring Sighs of Love.

Leon.
Sure 'tis the Terror of the Night I feel,
Or else some boding Mischief threatens near:
Methinks I see Antenor waiting still,
The ready Instrument of Fate he stands.
I know not why, but still my Thoughts are on him,
As if my Genius whisper'd me, Beware;
For he alone will ruin all thy Peace,
And yet my dear Defender must be gone:
Nay, do not loiter then, but haste away;
When thou art safe, perhaps my Fears may cease.

Lor.
And wilt thou drive me from these Arms so soon?
And dost thou think I can consent to leave thee?
Love is not satisfy'd with Words alone;
He would have kinder, softer Entertainment.

Leon.
When did I beg for parting, 'till this Hour?
Something there is that whispers to my Heart,
This Meeting will be fatal to us both;
And yet thou'lt stay, and pull our Ruin on.

Lor.
Haste thee, auspicious Regent of the Night,
And sudden bid the friendly Shades return,
When on my Bosom thou shalt lose these Fears.

Leon.
Perhaps they spring but from this Day's Alarm;
If so it prove, forgive a Woman's Weakness.
Away; open the Cave, descend, and leave me;
If nothing intervene to cross our Wishes,
To Morrow Night I will again expect thee.

Lor.
Death only can deprive that Expectation;
Farewel, thou fairest, best of all thy Kind.

[Opens the Trap, and descends.
King.
Well hast thou said; Death shall prevent thy Hopes.
Haste then, Antenor; thou who know'st the Passage,
So, take my Guards, and seize th'audacious Traytor.

Ant.
I fly, my gracious Sovereign.

[Ex. King and Antenor.
Leon.
Farewell! Alas! why did he say farewell?
That was, methinks, unluckily express'd.
How apt is Nature, when the Fancy works,
To observe each trifling Words as ominous?
Why these unnecessary Doubts upon me?
Have I done ought to sully my fair Name,
Or taint my Virtue in this secret Choice?
In Fame's Record Lorenzo foremost stands
The first of Heroes, yet surpass'd by none.
No conscious Blushes to my Cheeks can rise,
Which drag Repentance from a guilty Mind.
He is my Husband, and my Soul's at Peace;
That Thought supports me thro' all Storms of Fate.
No pois'nous Damp below can blast my Love,
Secure of just Protection from above.

[Exit.